What does Russia truly want? Global recognition as a great power, or simply more territory? Does Vladimir Putin's imperialist agenda threaten European security beyond Ukraine's borders? How can Western democracies negotiate with an authoritarian regime whose fundamental objectives differ so starkly from their own? And how does Putin’s bromance with Trump serve Russia’s wider strategic purpose?
IIn a discussion chaired by Stefan Stern, Russian strategy expert Andrew Monaghan and cyber security and intelligence expert Septimus Knox to explore why understanding Russia's true objectives is essential to global stability in an increasingly fragmented international order.
Dr Andrew Monaghan (Blitzkrieg and the Russian Art of War) is a specialist on Russia’s evolving grand strategy and way in war, as well as Moscow’s thinking about the future in the new age of Great Power competition. He has led research on Russia at the NATO Defence College in Rome, and at Oxford University’s Changing Character of War Centre. He has also held positions at the UK’s Defence Academy and as a Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House. He is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London and a Fellow at the Kennan Institute in Washington, D.C.
Septimus Knox is a Director at S-RM, a London-headquartered intelligence and cyber security business. He specialises in gathering intelligence to support complex, multijurisdictional disputes globally. He has been repeatedly recognised as one of the UK’s leading private sector investigators and has wide-ranging experience of operating in the world’s most challenging environments. He has particular expertise in disputes relating to Russia and has worked on some of the most high-profile cases relating to the region. In recent years, he has advised numerous businesses affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Septimus’ analysis of current affairs has been widely published (FT, Newsweek, World Economic Forum, BNE IntelliNews and the Moscow Times). He speaks Russian, has lived in, and travelled extensively across Russia, Ukraine and the wider Former Soviet Union.
Stefan Stern is a former Financial Times columnist and author of several books. He is a Visiting Professor in management practice at Bayes Business School, City St. George's, University of London, and a member of the Independent Commission on UK-EU Relations. His most recent book (2024) was "Fair or Foul - the Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition". Previous titles include "Myths of Management - what people get wrong about being the boss" (with Prof Cary Cooper), and "How To Be A Better Leader".
